While job candidates may think it's presumptuous to discuss training opportunities when on a job interview, one career expert says just the opposite. Every job candidate should be interested in what companies provide in terms of professional development programs.
The key is knowing how, and when, to raise the topic during the interview process as there's a good way, and a bad way, to tackle the subject, says John Estes, VP at Robert Half Technology (RHI).
While it's not a subject to mention in a cover letter or likely on the initial interview, job seekers should investigate a company's educational commitment as much as possible ahead of an interview, and make it clear during the interview process that continual education is important if they were to accept a job.
"While hands-on training will always be the most important thing, companies know they need to train IT staff in both tech and business skills these days," says Estes. That's why companies want staffers who realize the importance of honing all those skills, he says.
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The best way to show a prospective employer that you value training is to illustrate how training made an impact on your prior roles and the employer's business, explains Estes.
"You should bring your business skills across, as well as tech skills, in any interview and try to illustrate tangible business benefits you brought about as an employee. Companies want to see and know about tangible accomplishments—so explain why was ABC company better off with your achievements and how it tied to your continual learning effort," he says.
Companies are increasingly expanding IT training into business, communication and project management skill areas, says Estes.
In a new survey, 25 percent of CIOs ranked technical skills as the area in which their IT staff could most use improvement. Project management abilities were a close second with 23 percent of the response.
The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CIOs and was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by RHI, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis.
In the survey, CIOs were asked, "In which of the following areas do you think your IT staff could most use improvement?"
- Technical abilities 25%
- Project management skills 23%
- Verbal and written communication abilities 15%
- Organizational skills 14%
- Interpersonal skills 12%
- None/no improvements needed 3%
- Other/don't know 8%
"Technology changes rapidly, making it crucial for IT staff to constantly learn new skills to keep pace with industry advancements," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, in a press statement on the poll results. "Professional development programs also can aid a company's recruitment and retention efforts. In today's competitive IT hiring market, employees want to work for firms that encourage them to build new skills and assume more challenging responsibilities."
Six years ago the same survey showed a much bigger gap between tech skills and business skills, says Estes, proving that companies are understanding how valuable business skills are to an IT department.
"Companies are seeing the need to train tech people in other areas so they are looking for candidates who are interested in boosting those skills as well. That's why candidates need to inquire about courses offered, development programs and what else is provided to keep them as well rounded skill wise as possible before they accept or decline a job offer."
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